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What are we Really Eating?
As much as 80 percent of processed foods in America contain some amount of a genetically modified crop, but most Americans don’t even realize they are buying or eating foods made with this technology.
Genetically engineered crops are tailored to accentuate specific traits, such as making them more resistant to pests or increasing productivity. Proponents say genetic engineering helps reduce the need for pesticides and can help increase global food supplies, but critics warn the process robs food of its nutritional value and can ultimately lead to widespread malnutrition.
The most commonly produced genetically modified foods are cornstarch, soybean oil, high fructose corn syrup and canola oil. Some also criticize the widespread use of high fructose corn syrup in processed foods for contributing to the problem of obesity in this country, which has reached epidemic proportions.
Surveys show Americans don’t even realize they are eating foods that have been genetically tinkered with; those who do recognize that the process has become commonplace are divided on whether they think it’s a good or a bad thing.
One survey, by researchers at Cornell University, found Americans were split fairly evenly on whether they believed genetic engineering was beneficial or had a negative impact upon our nation’s food supply. A separate survey, by researchers at Rutgers University, found a surprisingly large number of Americans remained in the dark about what they were buying at the grocery store. Less than half realized that genetically modified foods were already on the market, and less than a third said they knew they were eating them.
Very little is known about the safety of genetically modified foods because there has been little research dedicated to this question.
For copies of the surveys, visit www.foodpolicyinstitute.org.
To learn more about this story, click here.
To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org
